Garment hanger



Sept v1*, 1959 D. A. EBERHARDT 2,902,194

GARMENT HANGER Filed OOC. 2l, 1957 INVENTOR DANIEL A. EBERHARDT BVMW/M ATTORNEY` rates ttite GARMENT HANGER Application October 21, 1957, Serial No. 691,361

6 Claims. (Cl. 223-95) This invention relates generally to improvements in garment hangers, and more particularly to an improved trouser hanger.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a trouser hanger that will support a pair of trousers by the waist in an upright position, and hold the trousers in a manner which eliminates, or at least largely minimizes, the formation of wrinkles. Although the hanger is adapted for utilization with trousers of all types, it is particularly useful in supporting the conventional wash-and-wear type of trousers, while drying.

An important yobject is realized by the provision of laterally spaced arms `at each end of the hanger which are provided with hooks adapted to receive and retain belt loops on opposite sides of the trousers at both the front and back, the arms servinng to hold the waist open at the top and to stretch the trouser sides, whereby to facilitate drying and minimize wrinkling.

Still another important object is realized by the particular structural arrangementl `and inclination of the trouser supporting arms of the hanger, which permit greater extension of the slidably connected hanger rods without decreasing the minimum limit of retraction of such rods.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of an improved locking mechanism on the hanger between the slidably connected extensible rod portions, such locking mechanism being adapted to permit automatic extension of the hanger and to preclude unintended retraction, thus holding the trouser sides at the waist under tension to realize the functional results and advantages discussed above.

Other important advantages `are provided in that the locking mechanism can be quickly and easily manipulated by a slight digital pressure to release the hanger rods and `enable retraction to elfect release of the arm hooks from the belt loops and to convert the device to a more compact unit for storage.

Y et another important object is provided by the particular structure of the locking mechanism and its connection and arrangement with the slidably connected hanger rods, so that the locking mechanism normally tends to increase its effective clamping action the greater the retraction force exerted on the hanger rods, until the locking mechanism is selectively manually released las explained previously.

Another important objective is to realize a trouser hanger that is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, and which can be utilized by any one without requiring any complicated instructions.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. l is a top plan view of the trouser hanger operatively connected to a pair or" trousers shown in dashed lines;

Patented Sept. 1, 1959 Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the trouser hanger shown above in Fig. 1, and showing a partial view of the upper portion of the trousers in dashed lines;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the trouser hanger shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in cross section, of the trouser hanger as seen along line 4-4 of Fig. l. l

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, it is apparent that the trouser hanger consists of two slidably adjustable parts 1li and 11 interconnected by a guide means 12 and a selectively operable latching mechanism 13.

The hanger part 10 consists of a rod 14 formed preferably of dat material having an integral supporting hook 15 provided at the outer end. The `opposite end of hanger rod 14 is provided with a downwardly struck dimple 16. Attached to rod 14 immediately adjacent supporting hook 15 is a pair of arms 17, the arms 17 extending laterally downwardly in divergent relation from opposite sides of hanger rod 14. The lowermost portion of each arm 17 is bent at an angle to provide hooks Ztl.

The cooperating hanger part 11 is constructed similarly to hanger part 10 described above, the hanger part 11 consisting of a hanger rod 21 formed of =a flat material and having at its outer end a supporting hook 22, and having at its inner end an upwardly struck dimple 23. A pair of arms 24 is attached to hanger rod 21 immediately adjacent supporting hook 22, the arms 24 extending laterally downwardly in divergent relation from opposite sides of the hanger rod Z1. The arms 24 are provided with lowermost hooks 25.

When assembled, the hanger rod 21 of hanger part 11 is disposed in longitudinal over-lapping relation to the hanger rod 14 of hanger part 10. When arranged in this position, it is seen that the supporting hook 15 is open from one side of the hanger while the supporting hook 15 is open from one side of the hanger while the supporting hook 22 is open Ifrom the opposite side of the hanger. Further, it will be particularly noted that the arms 17 of hanger part 10 and aims 24 of hanger part 11 are inclined downwardly toward each other, the purpose `and function of such structural arrangement will become apparent subsequently.

A socket structure 36 is ixed to the end of hanger rod 14, the socket structure including a depression 26 that receives the dimple 16. The socket stiucture 36 extends upwardly over hanger rod 21, and hence slidably receives hanger rod 21 and serves to guide rod 21 upon relative extension and retraction o-f the hanger parts.

Another socket structure 27 is lixed to the end of hanger rod 21, the dimple 23 being received in a depression 28 formed in socket structure 27. The socket structure 27 includes downwardly extending flanges that embrace -and slidably receive hanger rod 14 `of hanger part 10. It is seen that the socket structures 36 and 27 cooperate to cause longitudinal `adjustment of hanger rods 14 and 21.

The locking mechanism 13 includesv an L-shaped latch member 30. An aperture 31 is provided in one angularly related part of latch member 3) and is adapted to receive slidably therein the hanger rod 21. The other angularly related part of latch member 3l) extends below hanger rod 21.

Formed as an integral part of hanger rod 14 is an offset porton 32 that includes a cam shoulder 33 inclined away from hanger rod 21 and a seat portion 34 arranged substantially parallel to but spaced from hanger rod 21. The o'set portion 32 is located between the socket structures 36 and 27.

A compression spring 35-constituting a resilient means is mounted about hanger rod 21 and arranged so that one end engages latch member 30 and the opposite end engages the odset portion 32 of hanger rod 14. The spring 35 by virtue of its compressive loading tends to urge latch member 3) into engagement with cam shoulder 33, as is illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4. Because of the inclination of cam shoulder 33, the latch member 3G is tilted so that the margins defining aperture 31 ycome into clamping engagement with hanger rodv21. It is readily apparent from this structure that if the hanger parts and 11 were attempted to be moved to a retracted position, the cam shoulder 33 would engage the latch member 30 and tend to cause further inclination of latch member 30, thus tending to move the margins of aperture 31 with even further greater clamping pressure against hanger rod 21. This particular structural arrangement precludes unintended or unwanted retraction of hanger rods 14 and 21.

However, if it is desired to ex-tend the hanger rods 14 and 21, the particular structural arrangement of the locking mechanism 13 will readily permit such longitudinal adjustment. For example, 4it is seen that as the rods 14 and 21 are relatively extended, there is a tendency for cam shoulder 33 to move away from latch member 30, and there is a tendency of rod 21 to tilt the latch member 30 to a substantially upright position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, so that the hanger rod 21 may move through aperture 31. Immediately upon being adjusted to any extended position, the cooperative action of spring 35 and cam shoulder 33 acts normally to preclude relative retraction of hanger rods 14 and 21 from this adjusted position, for the reasons described previously.

Of course, the latch member 30 may be selectively disengaged and released from clamping engagement with hanger rod 21 by a slight digital pressure on the uppermost portion of latch member 30. The latch member 30 may be manually moved from the inclined position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 to the upstanding vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 against spring loading, and hence permit retraction of hanger rods 14 and 21. When the latch member is digitally released the spring 35 will urge the latch member 30 to its normal inclined position and into clamping engagement to preclude relative movement of the hanger rods 14 and 21 in the one direction, as previously described.

In utilizing the trouser hanger, the hanger is rst moved to a more or less retracted position by manually releasing the latch member 30 and longitudinally adjusting hanger rods 14 and 21, so as to move the arms 17 and 24 closer together. Then, the belt loops 40 located on opposite sides of the trousers at the front and back are located in hooks and 25 of arms 17 and 24 respectively. Thus it is seen that the trousers are now supported by the trouser hanger. After the belt loops are attached to arm hooks 20 and 25, the hanger rods 14 and 21 are moved to an extended position by exerting an outward pull to the hanger parts 10 and 11. As stated when described above, the latch member 30 permits this extension of rods 14 and 21 automatically. When the hanger parts 10 and 11 are extended fully, the arms 17 and 24 serve to hold the waist portion of the trouser open, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and serve to stretch the sides of the trousers tightly. This action of arms 17 and 24 facilitate drying and minimize the formation of wrinkles.

The particular inclination of arms 17 and 24 toward each other enables greater extension of hanger rods 14 and 21 without decreasing the minimum limit of retraction of such rods.

After expansion of hanger parts 10 and 11, the locking mechanism prevents unintended or unwanted retraction,l all as described previously. The trouser hanger can now be attached to a support rod or rope, or line by the use of support hooks 15 and 22. The trouser hanger then holds the trousers by the waist in an upright position.

To remove the trousers from the hanger, the hanger parts 1t) and 11 are retracted to enable release of the belt loops 4t) from the arm hooks 2t) and 25. In order to retract the hanger rods 14- and 21, the latch member 30 is moved digitally substantially to the upright position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, against the loading of spring 35, to release the clamping engagement of the margins of aperture 31 with hanger rod 21. Then while holding the latch member 3@ in the released position, the hanger rods 14 and 21 are slidably adjusted longitudinally to retract the hanger parts 10 and 11. After retraction, the latch member 30 is released, the latch member 30 normally assuming the inclined clamping position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, upon the cooperative action of spring 35 and cam shoulder 33.

Upon retarction of hanger parts 10 and 11, the waist portion of the trousers is moved from the stretched tight condition to a relatively loose condition which permits removal of belt loops 40 from the arrn hooks 2t) and 25.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive', rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

l. A garment hanger comprising a pair of slidably connected adjustable rods disposed in longitudinal overlapping, parallel relation, a socket structure on one end of each rod slidably receiving the other rod, a Supporting hook on the other end of each rod, and a pair of downwardly divergent arms attached to each rod adjacent the supporting hook, each pair of arms extending downwardly on opposite sides of the rods, said arms being provided with loop-engaging hooks, each pair of arms being inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the other pair of arms to allow lfor greater extension of said rods without decreasing the minimum limit of retraction.

2. A garment hanger comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable rods disposed in longitudinal over-lapping, parallel relation, a socket structure on each rod slidably receiving the other rod, supporting means on each rod, a pair of arms attached to each rod, said arms extending laterally downwardly lfrom opposite sides of said rods, said arms lbeing provided with loop-engaging hooks, a nrst of said rods having an odset portion spaced from the second of said rods, the odset portion including a cam shoulder, a latch member provided with an aperture slidably receiving the said second rod, and resilient means tending to urge the latch member into engagement with the cam shoulder, said cam shoulder tending to tilt the latch member into clamping engagement with the said second rod upon relative retraction of said rods.

3. A garment hanger comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable rods disposed in longitudinal over-lapping, parallel relation, a socket structure on each rod slidably receiving the other rod, a supporting means on said rods, and a pair of arms attached to each rod, each pair of arms extending laterally downwardly from opposite sides of the rod, said arms being provided with loop-engaging hooks, a rst of Said rods having an odset portion spaced from the second of said rods, the odset portion including a cam shoulder inclined away `from the said second rod, a latch member provided with an aperture slidably receiving the said second rod, and a spring on the said second rod and engaging the said tirst rod and saidlatch member, the spring tending to urge the latch member into engagement with said cam shoulder, said cam shoulder tending to tilt the latch member into clamping engagement with the said second lrod upon relative movement of said rods in one direction.

4. A garment hanger comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable rods disposed in longitudinal, over-lapping, parallel relation, a socket structure xed to the end of each rod and slidably receiving the other rod, supporting means on said rods, a pair of arms attached to each rod,

said arms extending laterally downwardly from opposite sides of each rod, said arms being provided with loopengaging hooks, a first of said rods having a cam shoulder, a latch member slidably mounted on the second of said rods and engaging said cam shoulder, said shoulder tending to tilt said latch member into clamping engagement with the said second rod upon relative movement of said rods in one direction, the socket structure on the said second rod engaging the shoulder to limit extension of said rods.

5. A garment hanger comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable rods disposed in longitudinal o'ver-lapi ping, parallel relation, a socket structure iixed to the end of each rod slidably engaging and receiving the other rod, supporting means on said rods, a pair of arms attached to each rod, each said pair `of arms extending laterally downwardly from opposite sides of'said rod, said arms being provided with loopdengaging hooks, a irst of said rods having an offset portion spaced from the second of said rods, the oiset portion including a earn shoulder, a latch member provided with an aperture slidably receiving the said second rod, resilient means tending to urge the latch member into engagement with the cam shoulder, said cam shoulder tending to tilt the latch member into clamping engagement with the said second rod upon relative slidable movement or -said rods in one direction, the socket structure of the said second rod engaging the offset portion to limit extension of said rods, the oiset portion being between the socket structures.

6. A garment hanger "comprising a pair of longitudinally adjustable rods disposed in longitudinally overlapping, parallel relation, a socket structure iixed to one end of each rod slidably receiving the other rod, a supporting hook fixed to the other end of each roda pair of arms attached to each rod adjacent the' supporting hook, each pair of arms extending divergently downwardly from opposite sides of said rod, said arms being provided with loop-engaging hooks, each pair of arms being inclined toward the other pair of arms to allow for greater extension of said rods without decreasing the minimum limit of retraction, a rst of said rods having an offset portion spaced from the second of said rods and located between said socket structures, the oiset portion including a cam shoulder inclined away from the said second rod, a latch member provided with an aperture slidably receiving the said second rod, -a compression spring mounted on the said second rod, the spring having one end engaging the said ttirst rod vand the opposite end engaging the said latch member, the spring tending to urge the latch member -into engagement with said cam shoulder, said cam shoulder tending to tilt the latch member into clamping engagement with the said second rod upon relative slidable movement of said rods in one direction,

the latch member being depressible against spring loading to release its clamping engagement with the said second rod to permit relative slidable movement of said rods, one of the socket structures engaging the offset portion to limit extension of said rods. y

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 723,031 Ross Mar. 17, 1903 2,084,565 TuppaW June 22, 1937 2,315,267 McEwen Mar. 30, 1943 2,604,241 Gold July 22, 1952 2,793,799 Frank et al. May 28, 1957 

